Liberia: Law Reform Commission Boss Varmah Challenges Young African Lawyers to Drive the Continent’s Economic Integration

Law Reform Commission Chairman, Cllr. Bornor Varmah The Chairman of the Law Reform Commission(LRC) of Liberia, Cllr. Bornor Varmah, has challenged the next generation of African Lawyers to become the architects of economic integration on the continent. Delivering the Keynote address at the opening of the Federation of African Law Students conference in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Monday, October 26, Cllr. Varmah said the theme: “Beyond Borders, Beyond Barriers” is not a just slogan but also a call to action. He said political independence alone has not delivered prosperity, adding that Africa needs lawyers who can draft modern legislation, negotiate commercial agreements, design regulatory frameworks and solve cross-border legal problems.

According to him, African markets remain fragmented, customs procedures and differing commercial laws continue to block trade, and young innovators still struggle to expand across borders that should connect rather than divide the continent. African Law Students Must Lead AfCFTA Implementation Cllr. Varmah argued that the African Continental Free Trade Area is more than a trade deal, saying it is a legal reform agenda. The West African Bar Association President told delegates at the Addis Ababa Conference that Africa’s next generation of lawyers must move beyond traditional courtroom roles to become architects of economic integration, legal reform and the practical realization of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). He noted that without reliable contracts, consistent regulations, efficient customs systems and trusted dispute resolution; trade on the continent cannot flourish. The LRC boss then called for stronger training in international trade law, technology law, competition law, digital commerce and alternative dispute…